Westside and Bellaire meet this weekend at Roy Knoblauch Field at the Butler Sports Complex to see which Houston ISD schools will play in the state baseball semifinals June 6 in Round Rock.

This is a tough series to call. Both Westside and Bellaire have played outstanding baseball in the last month. Both have strong pitching. Both have clutch hitting. Both have heart.

This will be a tough series with low-scoring games, so expect to see a lot of strategy sessions either at the plate or on the mound.

 

PITCHING 

Bellaire: The Cardinals have a deep pool of pitchers, and a good number of them can be effective. Tyler Duffey is expected to start the first game, with either Jared Rothenberg, Jeffrey Rohrbach and Kyle Chaskin to start the next two games. But one or more of those pitchers could come in relief, adding to an already deep bullpen consisting of Matthew Anderson and Toller Boardman. The Cardinals’ pitching has been decent in the playoffs so far, but only if the defense behind them is solid.

Westside: The Wolves have relied on Taylor Wall and Michael Goodnight as its big-time pitchers. The duo has pretty much dominated its competition in the playoff so far, and each won a game against Bellaire in the regular season. But because the duo has been so strong, the Wolves have not gotten a chance to go to its bullpen a lot.

That could be a factor if the game is close late or in extra innings. But you got to get some runs against Wall and Goodnight for that to be put in effect. I don’t see Bellaire shelling either of those guys. 

Advantage: Westside.

 

HITTING 

Bellaire: The Cardinals are capable of finding ways to score runs and always seem to come up with a big inning. They have gotten big hits from the top and middle hitters, like Chaskin, Wesley Mercurio and Christopher Minifee. Also, Jarrett Higgins is able to manufacture a run just with his speed.

Westside: The Wolves also have been able to get some clutch hits, especially late into the game. Daniel Mengden has two game-winning hits in the playoffs so far, and Matt Clayton, Michael Falcone and Cory Maltz also have been hitting the ball well, especially with men in scoring position.

Both teams will struggle to get hits, but Bellaire may have just enough to get some traffic on the bases. But can they turn them into runs is another question altogether.
Advantage: Bellaire.

 

INTANGIBLES

Bellaire: Coach Rocky Manuel has been in many series like these, and has found ways to make his team believe they can win. Even though the Cardinals were beaten in both regular season games, the playoffs are a very different situation. Plus, the Bellaire tradition could help motivate the team to playing above their heads in the series.

Westside: Not only have they beaten Bellaire twice, but the Wolves haven't lost in the postseason. They have beaten superb teams in Cy-Fair, Memorial and Baytown Sterling. Westside coach Emrick Jagneaux has been in this situation before, and will not be intimidated by Bellaire’s tradition.

Both of these teams will not be intimidated, so it’s hard to see a hidden factor in this series.
Advantage: Even.

 

Prediction: Good pitching beats good hitting. Westside in three.